This year, the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise had to suffer huge blows due to injury woes of overseas players. However, they were relieved from another pressure by the news about the availability of star hitter Chris Lynn. They will play the Royal Challengers Bangalore team on April 8th at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in their opener match. Let us look at the probable playing eleven for the game.

The team was delighted with the news about the return of Australian hitter Chris Lynn. He is likely to open the game along with Robin Uthappa. Earlier, he did an exaggerating performance in the Big Bash League 2017-18. In the top order, the U19 captain Shubhman Gill is expected to make a memorable knock for the team. Gill will probably play at No.3 making space to the opening players Uthappa and Lynn.

Middle order and wicket-keeper-Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana

Dinesh Kartik suddenly came into the limelight by his last ball six in the final match of the Nidahas tournament. He is the captain of the team now and will take over the wicket-keeping as well. He is called as Gautam Gambhir’s successor and is expected to play at No.4. This Tamil Nadu player has a good captaining experience.

Nitish Rana, one of the best performers for Mumbai Indians in the previous season, will bat at No.5. He is called as the man with the X-factor to impact the result of the game.

All-rounders- Andre Russell and Sunil Narine

This Caribbean pair made the core members of the team since a few seasons. Sunil Narine was out of the PSL team due to suspected bowling action but cleared all the hurdles to take part in the IPL 2018. Russell is one of the competent all-rounders who played in all kinds of the grounds around the world. Narine was known for his astonishing spin action as well as elegant batting style.

Spinners- Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav is known for his unpredictable bowling action. This wrist-spinner is one of the crucial reasons behind the triumph of India in the tour to South Africa. Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav want to make up the absence of Mitchell Starc by their consistency performance shouldering the spin bowling department along with Sunil Narine. They both hail from Uttar Pradesh and Piyush Chawla holds the rare record of making a hat-trick at Eden Gardens.

Pace bowlers- Mitchell Johnson and Vinay Kumar

It seems that the team lacks consistent pace-bowling attack on paper due to the absence of Mitchell Starc but the team included youngsters from the U19 team like Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mawi. The pace bowling department is an impressive combination of youngsters and experienced players with Andre Russell, Mitchell Johnson, Vinay Kumar, Shivam Mawi, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. But Mitchell Johnson and Vinay Kumar will shoulder the pace-bowling department in the first game.